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38 Gal tank experiences....

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by KeithM, Mar 19, 2018.

  1. Nov 1, 2022 at 4:54 AM
    #661
    Jaypown

    Jaypown New Member

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    It's not always 5 gallons though. I've seen it fluctuate.
     
  2. Nov 1, 2022 at 5:14 AM
    #662
    Black@Blue19

    Black@Blue19 Old Salt

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    To much to list:)
    I put gas in when it gets low and fill it up and THEN I drive it some more until it needs to be filled up and I THEN repeat!!


    Drive fill repeat drive fill repeat! I am not OCD about testing limits on how far I can drive when the light comes on and how many gallons it takes to fill up. Over 600 posted about gallons of gas? Does make for some fun reading though!:)
     
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  3. Nov 3, 2022 at 7:52 PM
    #663
    lunchmeat

    lunchmeat New Member

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    I lost my fuel pump around 110k miles on my Ford Escort GT when I almost never filled past 1/4 full. After graduating from college, buying Toyota’s and almost never letting it get down to 1/4 tank I haven’t replaced a fuel pump in the past 25 years (had a Tacoma for 20 years).
     
    Mike59 likes this.
  4. Nov 9, 2022 at 3:40 PM
    #664
    cntxflyer

    cntxflyer New Member

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    Hi new member here and this thread is one thing I'm thinking about when considering a new Tundra, currently driving a 2013 with 124K on the clock. No real compelling reasons to upgrade,.....except the .1 percent of the time I need 4WD and if I should make that upgrade I want the 32/38 gallon tank. My reason on the large tank is the ability to pick and choose when to refuel.
     
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  5. Nov 24, 2022 at 10:34 PM
    #665
    LevelUp

    LevelUp New Member

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    OEM LED headlights, interior ambient lighting, running boards, Firestone airbags, misc led swaps, started blacking out phase and chrome delete, Diamondback HD w/ Yakima Overhaul HD (on the way)
    did you go 60-90 miles after the light came on? My Tacoma had a 21.1 gal tank. Light would come on at around 2 gallons left. I would drive for like 20 miles and put in 20 gallons every time. I’m curious to see how far past the light I can go on my tundra.
    I rant out of gas on the highway in my 2012 tundra crewmax platty years ago and coasted to the next exit and coasted into a gas station about 1/2 mile up and was about was 3 feet shy of the pump. The guy was waving me forward and I’m like “I’m outta gas!” And he laughed his ass off and they pushed me up the 3 feet to get to the pump. Lol. Talk about fking lucky. That was the bullshit 26 gal tank in the 2012.. not sure how long the light was on.
     
  6. Nov 24, 2022 at 10:43 PM
    #666
    LevelUp

    LevelUp New Member

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    :thumbsup::thumbsup: My hero. So it’s settled then.
     
  7. Nov 28, 2022 at 3:36 PM
    #667
    hBaz

    hBaz New Member

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    The first page of this thread answered question I had after first fillup of new to me 2021. Even though 38 is actually 30ish, range of 450ish is pretty good I think.
     
  8. Dec 5, 2022 at 10:57 AM
    #668
    rocsteady

    rocsteady New Member

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    Not sure if anyone covered somewhere in this thread but several new vehicle companies that I've worked for, GM, Chrysler, Isuzu, all stated that fuel in the tank helped keep the pump cool and extended life. Also, over time, nasty sediment does accumulate in the bottom of the tank, at least here in NJ where we're not known for having the cleanest of fuels. Anyway, running it low had the added "benefit" of possibly getting some of that sediment sucked into the pump and not helping it at all in the longevity department.
    p.s. Also why they tell you not to get gas at the station as the truck is, or has just finished, filling the station's underground tanks as this flow of incoming fuel can stir up the sediment sitting in the bottom of their tanks. All just my two cents after seeing more than my share of fuel tanks dropped for fuel pump issues. Anyone remember the name of the pumps that were in the Eagle Talon/Mitsubishi Eclipses and others that were having their o-rings eaten away by the fuel?
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2022
  9. Jan 27, 2023 at 5:04 PM
    #669
    JJtruckon

    JJtruckon New Member

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    Undercoating
    Thought they were built by Mitsubishi.
     
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  10. Jan 27, 2023 at 7:16 PM
    #670
    Jaypown

    Jaypown New Member

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    Yep. DSM’s. Diamond star motors. I think it was a joint ventureship same with other Chrysler and Mitsubishi vehicles.
     
  11. Jan 28, 2023 at 8:00 AM
    #671
    Redline870

    Redline870 New Member

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    Can this thread finally end now???
     
  12. Jan 29, 2023 at 4:25 AM
    #672
    JJtruckon

    JJtruckon New Member

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    Undercoating
    Toyota tech told me the bigger tank uses the same fuel pick up as the base volume tank. Some of the tank is separated and that portion of fuel cannot be used?
    Hard to imagine Toyota engineers being dumb. But from this forum we’ve learned some other poorly engineered specs. One comes to mind the 2022 model doesn’t have auto light shut off if you leave an interior light on.
     
  13. Jan 29, 2023 at 5:11 AM
    #673
    Trentimus

    Trentimus New Member

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    Maybe I am an idiot, but I have had a 35 gallon fill up before.
     
  14. Jan 29, 2023 at 9:20 AM
    #674
    hBaz

    hBaz New Member

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    Here's what I've learned from this thread: 1) not all the fuel in tank can be used, 2) the fuel held at bottom is to keep pump cool, and 3) many people don't read before commenting ;)
     
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  15. Jan 29, 2023 at 9:34 AM
    #675
    Trentimus

    Trentimus New Member

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    I am sure we all learn something from snarky comments like 3), but just about your personality.
     
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  16. Jan 29, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    #676
    M3Tundra-JK

    M3Tundra-JK New Member

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    I just dropped my 38 gallon tank to swap the pump. None of the sections are walled off like previously stated. Rather think of the sections as maze wall. There is a low/open wall in every section allowing the fuel to flow all around. And really the "walls" are more like bumps... the reason there is so much extra gas left over is because the fuel pump AND pickup filter sock are located in the fuel basket, which is then lowered into the fuel tank. The pump/filter sock DOES NOT TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. You can see in my pictures where the fuel enters the basket(blue thingie),which is not the lowest point of the tank. Also the tank is freaking long. Leaving a lot of fuel on the base of the tank over a larger area. Meaning more fuel is left in there

    This is basically the same in any modern vehicle. We just have a stupidly large tank, meaning more will be left over than say a Tacoma with an 18 gallon tank. In fact, the Tundra and tacoma have the exact same fuel pump baskets

    PXL_20230128_192926862.jpg
    PXL_20230122_193146918.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2023
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  17. Jan 29, 2023 at 10:07 AM
    #677
    Trentimus

    Trentimus New Member

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    Good information! I think part of what causes the confusion is the E light comes on really early. Like someone above said you can drive a long way after hitting 0 range. My wife tests it every chance she gets. :rofl:
     
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  18. Jan 29, 2023 at 12:43 PM
    #678
    Redline870

    Redline870 New Member

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    Sounds like that tech didn’t know what he was talking about. Was he a “lube tech” (the FNG you stick doing oil changes)?
     
  19. Jan 31, 2023 at 9:46 PM
    #679
    Redline870

    Redline870 New Member

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    Not sure why everyone’s so hung up on this whole gas tank rated volume vs usable volume thing. Never letting your tank go below half is “basic dude stuff”.
     
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  20. Jan 31, 2023 at 10:48 PM
    #680
    Rangers

    Rangers New Member

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    Don't really get this thread. We all drive by gas stations every square mile or more often when we're in town, we can get gas anytime. So who gives a shit about range?

    If we're on a road trip, and want range, Im sure most of us have to stop and piss before the light comes on or the wife and kids need a rest stop. Hell my dogs have to piss more than me, so I stop.

    Those of us with the large tank just be thankful we don't have the small tank.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2023
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  21. Feb 1, 2023 at 11:24 AM
    #681
    JJtruckon

    JJtruckon New Member

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    Undercoating
    I guess it’s because of such a poorly engineered part in the Tundra.
     
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  22. Feb 1, 2023 at 12:56 PM
    #682
    PomDad

    PomDad we having snacks?

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    I'd argue it's poorly advertised, not poorly engineered. It's a long tank & it's engineered to not run dry, so it has a 'reserve' of fuel. It's advertised as a 38 gallon tank, when the reality is that it's a 38 gallon tank with an approximate 30 gallon usable volume.
     
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  23. Feb 1, 2023 at 1:08 PM
    #683
    GravityGear

    GravityGear Parking Lot Prerunner

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    I've never seen any manufacturer say "This vehicle has a 26 gallon tank. The light will turn on when 6 gallons remain." It's just a 26 gallon tank. Same thing here. The tank is 38 gallons. Full stop. It holds that much. I am also curious as to why this mole hill has been made into a mountain. Does everyone think they got ripped off?

    I have a 46 gallon transfer flow. I fill up about 39 gallons when the light is on... Did I get ripped off? Was I taken by marketing? Is my tank only 42 gallons? By some logic here... yes to all.
     
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  24. Feb 1, 2023 at 1:13 PM
    #684
    PomDad

    PomDad we having snacks?

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    Totally agreed, I personally don't think it's a big deal at all. I was mostly just trying to point out if there's anything to be upset about it's the advertising, not the engineering. I think our fuel tank is pretty well engineered (given the pretty much radio silence on the forum in regards to issues with it).

    edit: You know a truck is well engineered when the biggest issue people have is the reserve capacity in their MASSIVE fuel tank being too big lmao

    This is definitely the never ending thread though :rofl:
     
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  25. Feb 1, 2023 at 1:34 PM
    #685
    Henfield

    Henfield New Member

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    I know from life with aircraft, there is claimed capacity and usable capacity.
    I think all companies like to report claimed capacity. But aircraft manufacturers also report usable capacity. I lost out on a Tundra a year ago as it wasn't available, ended up with an F150 with a 36 gallon tank and a 5.0V8. Got to admit its pretty darned nice.
    Over 16k miles I've averaged 20.4mpg, best ever 25.8 on a pure 495 mile interstate run loaded with stuff. Worst mpgs towing (of course) when I was pushing 70 with a trailer and car totaling about 6,000lbs 11.9-best towing was over 14 with the same load and around 55mph. I did about 4 960 mile in a day drives last year and on each time I comfortably filled up once at lunchtime around 500 miles when it took around 22 gallons. Every fill up tracked using fuelly
     
  26. Feb 1, 2023 at 1:54 PM
    #686
    Redline870

    Redline870 New Member

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    This is the worlds smallest violin

    0F8D9255-C161-4ECD-A4C7-2CC77A18F9EA.jpg
     
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  27. Feb 1, 2023 at 3:55 PM
    #687
    hBaz

    hBaz New Member

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    Advertised capacity big number. Safe capacity small number. Actual capacity somewhere between.

    Am I writing about fuel ... ... or tow? Hmm.

    Not only a Toyota thing. All marketing people pad numbers, all (most?) engineers are conservative.
     
  28. Feb 7, 2023 at 12:21 PM
    #688
    Jaypown

    Jaypown New Member

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    I hate to do this because this thread is pointless.

    Everyone is fixated on volume and how many gallons their Tundra uses or doesn't use.

    It's not about the volume as it more about range. I'm pretty sure I've said this on here before. A 6 gallon post light residual would be roughly 84 miles (6gal x 14mpg). On a Rav 4 that gets 35 mpg, 3 gal (speculation) post light residual would be roughly 105 miles (3 gal x 35mpg). By this example, the Rav 4 has more "unusable" fuel than a Tundra. The larger fuel tank in the Tundra is to compensate for the lower mpg that it yields. Personally, I don't want a 3 gallon reserve and only be able to get 42 miles after my light is on in an emergency situation. If the Tundra got 35 miles per gallon, the tank would be smaller, the reserve would be smaller and this thread would have never been in existence.
     
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  29. Feb 11, 2023 at 4:19 PM
    #689
    1UP

    1UP Truck Gang

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    Whole dedicated multi page thread about the larger gas tanks.

    :hattip:
     
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  30. Feb 12, 2023 at 11:41 AM
    #690
    YellowLab

    YellowLab New Member

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    Hey All,
    Just a quick question (or 2).... If I change out a 26 gallon tank for either a Toyota 38 gallon or a 46 gallon Transfer Flo.... 1) How does that affect the gas gauge? and 2) Would it be wise to put in a new fuel pump when it is all apart ( 2018 tundra).

    Thanks in advance for the help!

    Danny
     

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